Tracking The Origins And Drivers Of Metastasis In Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,600.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer but only 10% of men with it, will die from it. Our current ability to discriminate between cancers with an indolent course and those that are lethal is poor. This project will examine the mixture of tumour clones (subclones) that are present in prostate cancers and define and track those cancer subclones that break away from the prostate and lodge in distant sites, causing death.
Characterising The Mutations, Signatures, Potential New Therapeutic Targets And Biomarkers In Malignant Mesothelioma Using Whole Genome Analysis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,219,288.00
Summary
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour that occurs principally in the pleura as a consequence of inhaling asbestos fibres. Currently there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. Thus new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. Such new approaches will require a detailed understanding of the genetic lesions of malignant mesothelioma. Therefore we will perform whole genome sequencing of a large cohort of malignant mesothelioma patients to identify mesothelioma-related alterations.
Expanding Diagnostic Approaches For Lynch Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,269,355.00
Summary
Currently, there are ~1,000 families who have attended Family Cancer Clinics across Australia who have the hallmarks of having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary bowel cancer syndrome, but who have no gene defect identified, i.e. their cancer is unexplained. Clinicians are challenged by these “Lynch-like” patients as their family cancer risk is unknown. Our research has identified new gene defects in Lynch-like patients. Our aim is to optimise clinical testing approaches for Lynch-like patients.
Determining The Origin Of Lethal Metastases In Multifocal Primary Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,470.00
Summary
New biomarkers are required to accurately predict lethal prostate cancer from benign, indolent disaese that doesn't require expensive treatment. To do this relies on finding molecular differences between disease states. Advancements in high throughput genomic technologies enables us to now probe the lethal prostate cancer genome and transcriptome and distinguish this disease state from other forms of prostate cancer.
Translation Of PALB2 Genetic Information Into Breast Cancer Clinical Genetic Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,081.00
Summary
Today in Australia women attending clinical genetics services and receiving genetic counselling due to a personal and/or family history of breast cancer are not considered for testing of PALB2 despite mounting evidence that the risk of breast cancer in mutation carriers is at least as high as the risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers. This project will provide the evidence base to support the incorporation of PALB2 gene testing into routine clinical genetics services both in Australia and around the ....Today in Australia women attending clinical genetics services and receiving genetic counselling due to a personal and/or family history of breast cancer are not considered for testing of PALB2 despite mounting evidence that the risk of breast cancer in mutation carriers is at least as high as the risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers. This project will provide the evidence base to support the incorporation of PALB2 gene testing into routine clinical genetics services both in Australia and around the world.Read moreRead less
Circulating Tumour DNA Analysis Of Acquired Treatment Resistance In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,807.00
Summary
Taxanes are commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer, yet treatment resistance remains a significant clinical problem for which new approaches are needed. Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)) into the bloodstream, and analysis of ctDNA can allow assessment of tumour specific genomic changes occurring during treatment. This project aims to utilise ctDNA to study acquired treatment resistance to taxane-based chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.
Genome Engineered, Preclinical Models Of Serrated Colorectal Cancer To Fast-track A High Sensitivity, Early Detection Test
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,854.00
Summary
1 in 12 Australians will develop colorectal cancer. Here we use information about changes to the genetic (inherited) material of these cancers to develop new, complex models of this disease. This teaches us about what those changes do, and highlights important targets for future drug therapies. We are also developing a better test to detect hidden pre-cancers that are not well detected by our current population screening strategy, to help reduce deaths from this disease.
An International Whole Genome Study To Definitively Map Heritable Risk In Sarcomas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$836,550.00
Summary
We want to understand why some people get sarcomas, and others do not. This is likely due to genetic causes, because these cancers affect the young. We now have the tools to address this question, and have created the largest and best characterised study of sarcoma families in the world upon which to apply these tools. This project will create an enduring foundation for research into the genetic basis of sarcomas for the next 20 years.
Genetic And Genomic Dissection Of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,598.00
Summary
The evolution of normal cells to cancer involves mutations that activate cancer-causing genes and/or prevent the actions of anti-cancer genes. It has become increasingly evident that cancer development also involves changes to epigenetic regulation, or control of gene activity by chemical modification of the gene or its environment rather that changes in DNA sequence. This project aims to explore the tumour suppressor activity of an important epigenetic regulatory complex in lymphoma.
Novel Therapeutic Approaches To Ovarian Clear Cell Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,920.00
Summary
Our study aims to develop novel therapies for clear cell ovarian cancer, a disease that is generally resistant to conventional therapies. We have found unexpected parallels between kidney cancer and ovarian clear cell cancer, and this has been used to better treat patients. This study investigates the underlying molecular changes the control ovarian clear cell cancer growth.